SM-G900S shows up in benchmark with 2k display, could be Galaxy S5 or Galaxy Round 2

There have been a lot of rumors making the rounds about the Galaxy S5, but now we finally have what we could consider concrete details on Samsung’s next flagship, including a model number and a few of its specs. A device with model number SM-G900S has made an appearance on GFXBench – the model number suggests it could be the Galaxy Round’s successor, but what reduces the chances of that being the case is the hardware listed in the benchmark.

Patent shows possible Galaxy S5 feature: improved one-hand operation with custom orientation of on-screen apps

One-hand operation of smartphones is becoming more and more of an inconvenience as display sizes become bigger with each passing year. Samsung mitigates the issue by offering a one-handed operation mode on the Galaxy Note 3, which reduces the size of the on-screen content and pushes it to a particular side of the screen, and the Korean company might be working on making one-hand operation even better with the Galaxy S5.

Samsung Galaxy S5, Note 4 and other flagships to have 16-megapixel cameras

Of all the rumors and speculation we’ve heard about the Galaxy S5, one common theme among them has been the fact that Samsung’s next flagship will have a 16-megapixel camera (possibly with optical image stabilization). Now, a report from the Korean Media claims that all 2014 flagships from Samsung will feature 16MP shooters. This isn’t surprising – every Galaxy Note has featured the same camera as that year’s Galaxy S, so if a 16MP camera debuts on the S5, the Note 4 should have one as well.

Samsung to focus on tablets and low-end devices in 2014, not on Galaxy S5 and other premium models?

According to a new report, Samsung expects to sell only 360 million smartphones next year. Wait, “only” 360 million, isn’t that a lot? Well, yes, it is, but for Samsung, a company that has seen immense growth in sales in recent years, with the Galaxy S4 becoming its most successful device this year, that’s the smallest predicted year-on-year improvement in the case of smartphones.

Galaxy S5 camera might not have optical image stabilization

Optical image stabilization (OIS) has become quite an important feature on smartphones these days, with manufacturers like Nokia, HTC, and LG having implemented it on their flagship devices’ cameras. The Galaxy Note 3 was originally rumored to have OIS as well, and while that didn’t pan out, the rumor mill started pointing towards the Galaxy S5 as being the first Samsung flagship that would have OIS (the Galaxy S4 Zoom already has it, but that’s more of a camera than a smartphone).

Samsung Galaxy S5 to have 4GB of RAM along with 64-bit processor?

More rumors are cropping up about the 64-bit Exynos processor that Samsung is expected to debut with the Galaxy S5. According to a new report by the Korean media, the 64-bit processor, the first of Samsung’s Exynos 6 series of chipsets, will be accompanied by 4GB of RAM, making use of one of the biggest advantages of 64-bit processing support.

Samsung and Sony competing for providing 16 MP camera sensors for Galaxy S5

8M pixel ‘ISOCELL’ image sensor developed by Samsung Electronics. Samsung Electronics has recently developed 13M and 16M pixel products. 

Samsung Electronics’ System LSI Division and Sony will compete in the 16 million pixel complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor market for smartphones. 

Over the years, Sony had an absolute power in the high-pixel (13 million or more) CMOS image sensor (CIS) market. However, in the second half of this year, Samsung Electronics’ System LSI Division broke the market structure of monopoly by Sony and has since been catching up with Sony at a high speed.

Samsung making rugged editions of the Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy S5?

Samsung is reportedly working on a rugged water- and dust-proof variant of the Galaxy Note 3, according to ETNews, and is also considering making the Galaxy S5 rugged and tough out of the box, similar to Sony’s Xperia Z and Xperia Z1. Samsung won’t be downgrading the hardware on either device for the rugged variants, which is stark contrast to the Galaxy S4 Active, which saw its specs watered down in exchange for a tougher and resistant build.